Seven bedroom riverfront mansion or 160,000 bushels of blue crabs?
Sure it’s a tough choice but something to consider in these turbulent economic times. Give a man $32 million and you can swim in his 60-foot infinity edge pool and play on his tennis courts. Or sink that cash into steamed crabs and you (and your entire extended family) can feast for a lifetime.
Steve and Maxine Phillips are hoping to attract those who would choose the former. A decade after buying 23-acre Friary on the Severn for $2.5 million, the Phillips Seafood CEO and his wife are selling the overhauled Annapolis property that includes eight bathrooms, a nine-car garage and a six-slip private boat dock. Local brokers say it’s the largest listed price ever for an Anne Arundel County home.
It’s got history. It was formerly a Capuchin monastery. Prior to that, it was home to an arms dealer. It’s secluded and luxurious but for the same price one could enjoy:
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
4 Things You Might Not Have Known About Your Cell Phone
FIRST (Emergency)
The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an Emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly, this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.
SECOND (Hidden Battery Power)
Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your cell phone will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time.
THIRD (How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?)
To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following Digits on your phone:
*#06#.
A 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe.
If your phone is stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. The y will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.
And Finally....
FOURTH (Free Directory Service for Cells)
Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial:
(800) FREE411 or (800) 373-3411 without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now.
This is sponsored by McDonald's.
The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an Emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly, this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.
SECOND (Hidden Battery Power)
Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your cell phone will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time.
THIRD (How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?)
To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following Digits on your phone:
*#06#.
A 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe.
If your phone is stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. The y will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.
And Finally....
FOURTH (Free Directory Service for Cells)
Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial:
(800) FREE411 or (800) 373-3411 without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now.
This is sponsored by McDonald's.
CAUSE OF DEATHS DETERMINED IN KENT CO. FARM ACCIDENT
(BALTIMORE, MD) – Autopsies have determined the cause of death for the father and his two sons found early yesterday morning after a farm accident in Kent County.
The bodies of Glen Nolt, 48, and two of his sons, Kelvin, 18, and Cleason, 14, all of Peach Bottom, PA, were recovered yesterday from a manure pit on a dairy farm in the 12000-block of Vansant Corner Road, Kennedyville, Md, where they had been working. Autopsies were conducted on the three at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Baltimore.
Doctors at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner told Maryland State Police investigators the autopsies revealed all three victims died of asphyxia. Cleason Nolt had an additional cause of death listed as multiple injuries. Investigators believe the injuries were inflicted by the large propeller on the end of the auger that circulates the liquid manure in the pit. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner doctors ruled all three deaths accidental.
The bodies of Glen Nolt, 48, and two of his sons, Kelvin, 18, and Cleason, 14, all of Peach Bottom, PA, were recovered yesterday from a manure pit on a dairy farm in the 12000-block of Vansant Corner Road, Kennedyville, Md, where they had been working. Autopsies were conducted on the three at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Baltimore.
Doctors at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner told Maryland State Police investigators the autopsies revealed all three victims died of asphyxia. Cleason Nolt had an additional cause of death listed as multiple injuries. Investigators believe the injuries were inflicted by the large propeller on the end of the auger that circulates the liquid manure in the pit. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner doctors ruled all three deaths accidental.
New Farmers Market Opens Wednesday
Click on the picture to print out the coupons for the new farmers market opening on E. Naylor Mill Road, Wednesday May 30th. Market hours are 3:00pm until 6:00pm
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
MAY 29, 2012 6:00 p.m.
Government Office Building Room 301
Times shown for agenda items are estimates only.
6:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER
6:01 p.m. WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS
6:06 p.m. INVOCATION/MEDITATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
6:08 p.m. ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
6:10 p.m. CONSENT AGENDA – City Clerk Kim Nichols
March 19, 2012 closed session minutes (separate envelope)
March 26, 2012 regular meeting minutes
March 26, 2012 work session minutes
Manufacturing exemption request – Spartech Polycom
Designation of honorary board members of Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion
Resolution No. 2166 - donation to Salisbury Police Department Physical Fitness Room
Resolution No. 2167 - donation of shotguns to Salisbury Police Department
Resolution No. 2168 – appointment of trustee to Retiree Health Plan Trust
(GASB#45 Trust)
6:15 p.m. AWARD OF BIDS – Assistant Internal Services Director – Procurement Catrice 2
Parsons
Declaration of surplus – 5 shotguns
Change Order #3 to Contract #A-7-09 R2 Curb, Gutter, and Sidewalk
Award Contract #110-12 Parsons Road Pavement Replacement
6:30 p.m. ORDINANCES – City Attorney Mark Tilghman
Ordinance No. 2205 – 1st reading – FY12 budget amendment to appropriate funds for a contribution to support the Red, White and Boom Fireworks Display
Ordinance No. 2202 - 1st reading - FY12 budget amendment to purchase properties at tax sale, along with associated costs
Ordinance No. 2203 - 1st reading – to revise the scheduled dates for submission to Council of a draft comprehensive connection charge structure
Ordinance No. 2204 - 1st reading - FY12 budget amendment to appropriate funds received from Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
7:30 p.m. FY2013 BUDGET – Council President Terry Cohen
Ordinance No. 2201 – 2nd reading for adoption of FY2013 budget as amended (setting of real property tax rate, water/sewer rates, fees and establishing appropriations)
8:30 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS
8:45 p.m. ADJOURNMENT
Delmar Festival
36th Annual Delmarva's Day in the Park Festival
Sat. June 2nd - 10a - 6p. State Street Park, Delmar, DE
Rain date: Sat. June 16th.
Sat. June 2nd - 10a - 6p. State Street Park, Delmar, DE
Rain date: Sat. June 16th.
Food, crafts, informational vendors, raffles, attractions, games
50/50 drawing, silent auction, live entertainment and more!
This year's live music is Gene Paul. This group is a blues group
and a few of the members are Delmar natives. Their sound is awesome.
They'll be playing from 2p - 6p.
Come on out with your lawn chair or your blanket and enjoy!
Mitchell's Martial Arts will also be doing a demonstration.
A fun-filled day for the entire family!
Festival sponsored by The Greater Delmar Chamber of Commerce.
Typical CEO Made $9.6M Last Year, AP Study Finds
Profits at big U.S. companies broke records last year, and so did pay for CEOs.
The head of a typical public company made $9.6 million in 2011, according to an analysis by The Associated Press using data from Equilar, an executive pay research firm.
That was up more than 6 percent from the previous year, and is the second year in a row of increases. The figure is also the highest since the AP began tracking executive compensation in 2006.
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The head of a typical public company made $9.6 million in 2011, according to an analysis by The Associated Press using data from Equilar, an executive pay research firm.
That was up more than 6 percent from the previous year, and is the second year in a row of increases. The figure is also the highest since the AP began tracking executive compensation in 2006.
More
TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THE PARTY'S OVER
Once upon a time, the largest U.S. cities were the envy of the entire world. Sadly, that is no longer the case. Sure, there are areas of New York City, Boston, Washington and Los Angeles that are still absolutely beautiful but for the most part our major cities are rapidly rotting and decaying. Cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore, Memphis, New Orleans, St. Louis and Oakland were all once places where middle class American workers thrived and raised their families. Today, all of those cities are rapidly being transformed into cesspools of filth, decay and wretchedness. Millions of good jobs have left our major cities in recent decades and poverty has absolutely exploded. Basically, you can turn out the lights because the party is over. In fact, some major U.S. cities are literally turning out the lights. In Detroit, about 40 percent of the streetlights are already broken and the city cannot afford to repair them. So Mayor Bing has come up with a plan to cut the number of operating streetlights almost in half and leave vast sections of the city totally in the dark at night. I wonder what that will do to the crime rate in the city. But don’t look down on Detroit too much, because what is happening in Detroit will be happening where you live soon enough.
A recent Bloomberg article described Mayor Bing’s plan to eliminate nearly half of Detroit’s streetlights….
Detroit, whose 139 square miles contain 60 percent fewer residents than in 1950, will try to nudge them into a smaller living space by eliminating almost half its streetlights.
As it is, 40 percent of the 88,000 streetlights are broken and the city, whose finances are to be overseen by an appointed board, can’t afford to fix them. Mayor Dave Bing’s plan would create an authority to borrow $160 million to upgrade and reduce the number of streetlights to 46,000. Maintenance would be contracted out, saving the city $10 million a year.
What this means is that there are going to be a lot of neighborhoods that will have the lights turned off permanently.
So which neighborhoods will those be?
According to one top Detroit official, “distressed areas” are going to be on the low end of the totem pole….
“You have to identify those neighborhoods where you want to concentrate your population,” said Chris Brown, Detroit’s chief operating officer. “We’re not going to light distressed areas like we light other areas.”
City officials know that they cannot force people to move from “distressed areas”, so they are going to encourage them to leave by cutting off services.
But turning off the lights is not the only way that Detroit is trying to save money.
More
A recent Bloomberg article described Mayor Bing’s plan to eliminate nearly half of Detroit’s streetlights….
Detroit, whose 139 square miles contain 60 percent fewer residents than in 1950, will try to nudge them into a smaller living space by eliminating almost half its streetlights.
As it is, 40 percent of the 88,000 streetlights are broken and the city, whose finances are to be overseen by an appointed board, can’t afford to fix them. Mayor Dave Bing’s plan would create an authority to borrow $160 million to upgrade and reduce the number of streetlights to 46,000. Maintenance would be contracted out, saving the city $10 million a year.
What this means is that there are going to be a lot of neighborhoods that will have the lights turned off permanently.
So which neighborhoods will those be?
According to one top Detroit official, “distressed areas” are going to be on the low end of the totem pole….
“You have to identify those neighborhoods where you want to concentrate your population,” said Chris Brown, Detroit’s chief operating officer. “We’re not going to light distressed areas like we light other areas.”
City officials know that they cannot force people to move from “distressed areas”, so they are going to encourage them to leave by cutting off services.
But turning off the lights is not the only way that Detroit is trying to save money.
More
Maryland Attorney General - News Release
Online Training on Maryland's Open Meetings Act Now AvailableAG Gansler and UMD's
Institute for Governmental Service and Research join in effort to educate political leaders, government employees, reporters and the public
Baltimore, MD (May 23, 2012) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and the University of Maryland's Institute for Governmental Service and Research have announced the availability of a new online class on Maryland's Open Meetings Act. The class is designed for elected officials, public employees, members of the media and any Marylander interested in open government who wishes to become more familiar with the requirements of the Act.
“Giving people an easier way to gain a working knowledge of the Open Meetings Act promotes a more open and honest government,” said Attorney General Gansler. “We're proud to be part of this online resource that is available to any Marylander who has an interest in good government practices, and we're grateful for the expertise that the Institute for Governmental Service and Research brings to this initiative. ”
Maryland's Open Meetings Act online class is immediately available to the public at the Institute for Governmental Service and Research's website (www.igsr.umd.edu/VLC/OMA/). The full text of the Act, as well as information about Maryland's Public Information Act, is also available online at the Attorney General's Open Government page. The Office of the Attorney General and the Institute for Governmental Service and Research will keep the class content current, including any potential changes to the Act itself or its interpretation by the courts and the Open Meetings Compliance Board (OMCB).
The class, comprised of 6 lessons and 10 quizzes, takes about 2.5 hours to complete and covers the purpose, mechanics and applicability of the Open Meetings Act. Participants who finish the lessons and pass the quizzes earn a certificate of completion at the end of the class.
Each year, the OMCB issues a report on the number and types of complaints it receives and other information related to Maryland's Open Meetings Act. Citizens, government officials and news media personnel may complain to the OMCB when they believe a public body has not adhered to the Act, and the OMCB issues opinions on whether the complaint is justified. From July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011, the OMCB received substantially more complaints than it had in the previous year.
Public bodies most often run into trouble when holding closed meetings. Maryland's Open Meetings Act has explicit requirements for when meetings may be closed to the public, what can be discussed in those meetings, and what must be provided for the public record. This new online class, which includes statutory language from the Act as well as examples geared to address routinely encountered problems, will be an excellent tool to keep Maryland's government open and transparent.
More
Institute for Governmental Service and Research join in effort to educate political leaders, government employees, reporters and the public
Baltimore, MD (May 23, 2012) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and the University of Maryland's Institute for Governmental Service and Research have announced the availability of a new online class on Maryland's Open Meetings Act. The class is designed for elected officials, public employees, members of the media and any Marylander interested in open government who wishes to become more familiar with the requirements of the Act.
“Giving people an easier way to gain a working knowledge of the Open Meetings Act promotes a more open and honest government,” said Attorney General Gansler. “We're proud to be part of this online resource that is available to any Marylander who has an interest in good government practices, and we're grateful for the expertise that the Institute for Governmental Service and Research brings to this initiative. ”
Maryland's Open Meetings Act online class is immediately available to the public at the Institute for Governmental Service and Research's website (www.igsr.umd.edu/VLC/OMA/). The full text of the Act, as well as information about Maryland's Public Information Act, is also available online at the Attorney General's Open Government page. The Office of the Attorney General and the Institute for Governmental Service and Research will keep the class content current, including any potential changes to the Act itself or its interpretation by the courts and the Open Meetings Compliance Board (OMCB).
The class, comprised of 6 lessons and 10 quizzes, takes about 2.5 hours to complete and covers the purpose, mechanics and applicability of the Open Meetings Act. Participants who finish the lessons and pass the quizzes earn a certificate of completion at the end of the class.
Each year, the OMCB issues a report on the number and types of complaints it receives and other information related to Maryland's Open Meetings Act. Citizens, government officials and news media personnel may complain to the OMCB when they believe a public body has not adhered to the Act, and the OMCB issues opinions on whether the complaint is justified. From July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011, the OMCB received substantially more complaints than it had in the previous year.
Public bodies most often run into trouble when holding closed meetings. Maryland's Open Meetings Act has explicit requirements for when meetings may be closed to the public, what can be discussed in those meetings, and what must be provided for the public record. This new online class, which includes statutory language from the Act as well as examples geared to address routinely encountered problems, will be an excellent tool to keep Maryland's government open and transparent.
More
Feds Having Hard Time Hiring 100,000 Disabled People
The federal government is struggling to meet its goal of hiring 100,000 disabled workers within the next three years. A new Government Accountability Office report said a lack of preparation, knowledge and training existed at many agencies. Even agencies with leaders committed to the cause said funding constraints could hurt their progress. But the report said the Office of Personnel Management shared some blame. OPM was still developing mandatory training programs two years after President Barack Obama issued his executive order directing agencies to set the example for all employers.
US To Backstop The Anglo-American Derivatives Exchanges With Fed Dollars - 'Too Big To Fail'
It sounds like the principle of keeping AIG whole on its obligations so that it can pay off to the banks at 100 cents on the dollar. This should make Jamie feel a little better about his bad derivatives trades.
And Blythe should rest easy knowing that Benny has her back on those massive metals shorts.
Sounds like they even plan to have the Fed backstop the derivatives trade in London.
Heads the banks win, tails those holding US dollars lose.
How will they support the next bailout? Austerity!
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And Blythe should rest easy knowing that Benny has her back on those massive metals shorts.
Sounds like they even plan to have the Fed backstop the derivatives trade in London.
Heads the banks win, tails those holding US dollars lose.
How will they support the next bailout? Austerity!
More
BREAKING NEWS: US Expels Top Syrian Diplomat
The US is expelling Syria's top Washington, DC, diplomat, following similar actions by several allies, in protest of last Friday's massacre in Houla that left at least 108 dead, including 49 children and 34 women, the UN reports.
From Fox News
From Fox News
USPS Offers $15,000.00 Early Out
The Postal Service is offering an early retirement and buy-out deal to the tune of $15,000. It announced the deal on Friday after in-depth discussions with the National Postal Mail Handlers Union. Employees who take the deal would receive half the money this December, and the other in December 2013. Sign-up closes on July 2. USPS hopes to shed 45,000 employees in this round of buyouts. It will also offer buyouts to all of its 21,000 postmasters and planned to close 230 processing plants.
Shale Study’s Lead Author Faces ‘Green’ Backlash
Faced with mounting criticism, the State University of New York at Buffalo is distancing itself from a Marcellus Shale gas-drilling study released earlier this month by the school’s own Shale Resources and Society Institute.
But the report’s lead author is defending the work by the fledgling institute, saying Monday that it’s being mischaracterized by environmental activists who oppose any additional domestic fossil-fuel production.
“I stand by the work,” said Timothy Considine, University of Wyoming professor and one of three researchers who penned the institute’s survey, adding that he and his colleagues aren’t at all surprised by the green backlash it has generated.
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But the report’s lead author is defending the work by the fledgling institute, saying Monday that it’s being mischaracterized by environmental activists who oppose any additional domestic fossil-fuel production.
“I stand by the work,” said Timothy Considine, University of Wyoming professor and one of three researchers who penned the institute’s survey, adding that he and his colleagues aren’t at all surprised by the green backlash it has generated.
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Albero's Invade Busch Gardens
Quite a few of the Albero Family arrived at Busch Gardens this weekend to enjoy the holiday weekend. I hope all of you enjoyed your holiday weekend as well.
William Black on JP Morgan And the Failure To Regulate Wall Street Fraud
JPMorgan’s flacks and apologists have, unintentionally, exposed the fact that their cover story – hedging gone bad – is false. JPMorgan runs the world’s largest gambling operation in financial derivatives. The New York Times reported the key facts, but not the analytics, in an article entitled “Discord at Key JPMorgan Unit is Faulted in Loss.” [16] The analytics suggest that the latest JPMorgan cover story – it was JPMorgan’s “Achilles the heel” (based in the UK) who caused the loss – is misleading.
The thrust of the story is that in the beginning JPMorgan’s Chief Investment Office (CIO) was run by a fair princess (Ina Drew) and all was fabulous. Sadly, Ms. Drew contracted Lyme’s Disease and was unable to ensure peace and prosperity in her land. The evil Achilles Macris, based in the UK, became disloyal and mean. He made massive, bad purchases of financial derivatives that caused major losses. CIO senior officers based in the U.S. (and women to boot) tried to warn Achilles but he screamed at them and refused to listen and learn. The just king, Jamie Dimon, did not act promptly to save his kingdom from loss because of his great confidence in Princess Drew.
The personal story of Achilles acting like a heel makes compelling journalism, but it obscures rather than clarifies the analysis as to why JPMorgan poses a clear and present danger to the global economy.
We need to begin with context. It was toxic financial derivatives (not) backed by fraudulent liar’s loan mortgages (“green slime”) that drove the U.S. crisis. Paul Volcker urged the administration and Congress to bar any entity that received federal deposit insurance from investing in financial derivatives. The Dodd-Frank Act did so in a provision called “the Volcker rule.” Treasury Secretary Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke, who exist to serve the interests of CEOs of the largest banks, oppose the Volcker rule. Jamie Dimon leads the banking industry’s opposition to the Volcker rule.
Dimon has a three-part strategy: stall the Volcker rule, gut its effectiveness by creating a massive loophole, and get the rule repealed by a future Congress. The loophole takes advantage of the fact that the Volcker rule was not intended to prevent banks from using derivatives to create (true) hedges. The current draft of the rule, however, renders the rule useless because it allows banks to call non-hedges “hedges” – it adopts a standard I call “hedginess.” A systemically dangerous institution (SDI) like JPMorgan has vast amounts of financial derivatives and it can (and does) call any speculative bet it takes in financial derivatives a “hedge.”
The NYT article demonstrates that JPMorgan is speculating, not hedging, and that the current draft of the Volcker rule would render us defenseless against the next financial crisis. The article misses these analytics and presents a misleading portrayal of the purportedly good years of CIO under Princess Drew. It turns out that CIO’s profits and losses come from the same practice – gambling on massive amounts of financial derivatives – not hedging. The NYT misses this key analytical point...
More
The thrust of the story is that in the beginning JPMorgan’s Chief Investment Office (CIO) was run by a fair princess (Ina Drew) and all was fabulous. Sadly, Ms. Drew contracted Lyme’s Disease and was unable to ensure peace and prosperity in her land. The evil Achilles Macris, based in the UK, became disloyal and mean. He made massive, bad purchases of financial derivatives that caused major losses. CIO senior officers based in the U.S. (and women to boot) tried to warn Achilles but he screamed at them and refused to listen and learn. The just king, Jamie Dimon, did not act promptly to save his kingdom from loss because of his great confidence in Princess Drew.
The personal story of Achilles acting like a heel makes compelling journalism, but it obscures rather than clarifies the analysis as to why JPMorgan poses a clear and present danger to the global economy.
We need to begin with context. It was toxic financial derivatives (not) backed by fraudulent liar’s loan mortgages (“green slime”) that drove the U.S. crisis. Paul Volcker urged the administration and Congress to bar any entity that received federal deposit insurance from investing in financial derivatives. The Dodd-Frank Act did so in a provision called “the Volcker rule.” Treasury Secretary Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke, who exist to serve the interests of CEOs of the largest banks, oppose the Volcker rule. Jamie Dimon leads the banking industry’s opposition to the Volcker rule.
Dimon has a three-part strategy: stall the Volcker rule, gut its effectiveness by creating a massive loophole, and get the rule repealed by a future Congress. The loophole takes advantage of the fact that the Volcker rule was not intended to prevent banks from using derivatives to create (true) hedges. The current draft of the rule, however, renders the rule useless because it allows banks to call non-hedges “hedges” – it adopts a standard I call “hedginess.” A systemically dangerous institution (SDI) like JPMorgan has vast amounts of financial derivatives and it can (and does) call any speculative bet it takes in financial derivatives a “hedge.”
The NYT article demonstrates that JPMorgan is speculating, not hedging, and that the current draft of the Volcker rule would render us defenseless against the next financial crisis. The article misses these analytics and presents a misleading portrayal of the purportedly good years of CIO under Princess Drew. It turns out that CIO’s profits and losses come from the same practice – gambling on massive amounts of financial derivatives – not hedging. The NYT misses this key analytical point...
More
Join Us This Evening At Our Open House!
Join other members of our community as United Way launches the Imagination Library on May 29th. The open house kick-off will take place at the Wicomico Public Library from 5-7pm. Food and refreshments will be served. Guests are welcome.
We are very pleased to have the opportunity to offer such a wonderful program to children in Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester Counties. This book program is TOTALLY FREE to participating children. Upon registering for the program, a child will receive a high quality, age-appropriate book delivered to his or her home each month until his or her fifth birthday. Children can sign up at any age as long as they are under five years old. For more details, visit http://www.unitedway4us.org/dolly-partons-imagination-library .
The goals for the Imagination Library include:
To help children foster a love of reading
To encourage family involvement
To enable every household to have books regardless of income level
And, ultimately, to better prepare children for entry into the school system Those who attend our event on May 29th will have the opportunity to learn more about this wonderful program, to discuss possible partnerships, volunteer opportunities and involvement, to network with other community-minded professionals, and to celebrate a great opportunity for young children on the Eastern Shore.
We are very pleased to have the opportunity to offer such a wonderful program to children in Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester Counties. This book program is TOTALLY FREE to participating children. Upon registering for the program, a child will receive a high quality, age-appropriate book delivered to his or her home each month until his or her fifth birthday. Children can sign up at any age as long as they are under five years old. For more details, visit http://www.unitedway4us.org/dolly-partons-imagination-library .
The goals for the Imagination Library include:
To help children foster a love of reading
To encourage family involvement
To enable every household to have books regardless of income level
And, ultimately, to better prepare children for entry into the school system Those who attend our event on May 29th will have the opportunity to learn more about this wonderful program, to discuss possible partnerships, volunteer opportunities and involvement, to network with other community-minded professionals, and to celebrate a great opportunity for young children on the Eastern Shore.
Oysters Save Chesapeake, Taxes And You Can Eat Them Too
If you want to help clean up the Chesapeake Bay and you're fond of oysters, there's a program you should know about.
Buy a special float used to grow oysters on the water, and you can get all your money back in Maryland in the form of a state tax credit.
If you own a home on the water you can place the float under your dock and the growing oysters will naturally filter the water, improving its quality.
More
Buy a special float used to grow oysters on the water, and you can get all your money back in Maryland in the form of a state tax credit.
If you own a home on the water you can place the float under your dock and the growing oysters will naturally filter the water, improving its quality.
More
Obama And His Pot-Smoking ‘Choom Gang’
Unlike Bill Clinton, Barack Obama never tried to say he didn’t inhale.
In his 1995 memoir “Dreams of My Father,” Obama writes about smoking pot almost like Dr. Seuss wrote about eating green eggs and ham. As a high school kid, Obama wrote, he would smoke “in a white classmate’s sparkling new van,” he would smoke “in the dorm room of some brother” and he would smoke “on the beach with a couple of Hawaiian kids.”
He would smoke it here and there. He would smoke it anywhere.
Now a soon-to-be published biography by David Maraniss entitled “Barack Obama: The Story” gives more detail on Obama’s pot-smoking days, complete with testimonials from young Barry Obama’s high school buddies, a group that went by the name “the Choom Gang.” Choom was slang for smoking marijuana.
Maraniss portrays the teenage Obama as not just a pot smoker, but a pot-smoking innovator.
“As a member of the Choom Gang,” Maraniss writes, “Barry Obama was known for starting a few pot-smoking trends.”
More
In his 1995 memoir “Dreams of My Father,” Obama writes about smoking pot almost like Dr. Seuss wrote about eating green eggs and ham. As a high school kid, Obama wrote, he would smoke “in a white classmate’s sparkling new van,” he would smoke “in the dorm room of some brother” and he would smoke “on the beach with a couple of Hawaiian kids.”
He would smoke it here and there. He would smoke it anywhere.
Now a soon-to-be published biography by David Maraniss entitled “Barack Obama: The Story” gives more detail on Obama’s pot-smoking days, complete with testimonials from young Barry Obama’s high school buddies, a group that went by the name “the Choom Gang.” Choom was slang for smoking marijuana.
Maraniss portrays the teenage Obama as not just a pot smoker, but a pot-smoking innovator.
“As a member of the Choom Gang,” Maraniss writes, “Barry Obama was known for starting a few pot-smoking trends.”
More
Flash Mob Steals From Baltimore 7-Eleven; Beats Store Manager Who Tries To Stop Them
BALTIMORE (WJZ)– Another mob of juveniles causes problems in downtown Baltimore. This time, it happens inside a 7-Eleven where dozens of kids came for free Slurpees but ended up stealing much more.
Derek Valcourt reports.
The entire incident was caught on video. But city police and managers at the 7-Eleven have refused to let WJZ see that video. But there are plenty of people in that busy area of town who saw it all unfold.
More
Derek Valcourt reports.
The entire incident was caught on video. But city police and managers at the 7-Eleven have refused to let WJZ see that video. But there are plenty of people in that busy area of town who saw it all unfold.
More
PORN STARS: Bill Clinton ASKED To Take A Picture With Us
Brooklyn Lee and Tasha Reign, the porn stars who posed for a picture with Bill Clinton at a gala in Monaco last night, claim that the former president personally requested the now infamous photo.
The two adult film stars called into TMZ today and explained how the whole thing went down:
"He kind of was looking over at us once in a while, and we're huge, like psycho fans of Bill — we just think he's really cute," Lee said. "So we ended up wandering by and we were going to approach him to take a picture and his Secret Service sort of brushed us away."
"As we were walking away, Bill actually had the Secret Service guy call us back and take a picture."
You can listen to the whole call here. And just in case you missed it, here's the picture:
MorePosse in Hawaii: 'Shocking' News Coming
A letter from Hawaii’s Department of Health verifying Barack Obama’s birth in Honolulu has not only not
stopped Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Cold Case Posse work on the island, his
lead investigator reports it has actually “opened the door” to some
“shocking revelations” the posse is promising to disclose.
Among the details leaked early by Cold Case Posse lead investigator Mike Zullo: There are allegedly several stamps bearing Registrar Alvin Onaka’s name “floating around” inside the Hawaii Department of Health.
Zullo was interviewed via telephone from Hawaii by Tea Party Power Hour host Mark Gillar to discuss, among other things, a letter stamped with Onaka’s name and sent to Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett as verification of Obama’s Hawaiian birth.
More
Among the details leaked early by Cold Case Posse lead investigator Mike Zullo: There are allegedly several stamps bearing Registrar Alvin Onaka’s name “floating around” inside the Hawaii Department of Health.
Zullo was interviewed via telephone from Hawaii by Tea Party Power Hour host Mark Gillar to discuss, among other things, a letter stamped with Onaka’s name and sent to Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett as verification of Obama’s Hawaiian birth.
More
America's "Failed States"
CALIFORNIA, ILLINOIS BRING GREEK-STYLE FISCAL TRAGEDY TO AMERICA
The Eurozone isn’t the only economy reeling from “failed states.” The United States has several of its own – most notably California and Illinois.
According to the CIA’s world factbook, California’s economy is the ninth largest in the world with a gross state product of $1.9 trillion. Illinois’ economy is the world’s 23rd largest economy with a gross state product of nearly $630 billion.
These are impressive figures, to be sure, but both states have seen their global position slip in recent years – and further erosion is likely thanks to poor fiscal stewardship and anti-competitive tax increases.
Both California and Illinois are hoping that tax hikes will bridge gaping deficits created by politicians’ failure to rein in government growth – including expanded entitlements and exorbitant public sector pensions.
Does any of this sound familiar? It should. This is precisely the sort of unchecked public sector growth that has landed Greece in its current predicament – a worsening crisis that has pushed the entire euro zone to the brink of collapse.
“Public payroll expenses (salaries and pensions of civil servants) rose in Greece from 38 percent of state revenue in 2000 to 55 percent in 2009,” reports Antonis Kamaris of the Council on Foreign Relations. “Compounding this trend, local elites became hostile to any coherent national reform effort, precisely to preserve the system that now privileged them.”
More
The Eurozone isn’t the only economy reeling from “failed states.” The United States has several of its own – most notably California and Illinois.
According to the CIA’s world factbook, California’s economy is the ninth largest in the world with a gross state product of $1.9 trillion. Illinois’ economy is the world’s 23rd largest economy with a gross state product of nearly $630 billion.
These are impressive figures, to be sure, but both states have seen their global position slip in recent years – and further erosion is likely thanks to poor fiscal stewardship and anti-competitive tax increases.
Both California and Illinois are hoping that tax hikes will bridge gaping deficits created by politicians’ failure to rein in government growth – including expanded entitlements and exorbitant public sector pensions.
Does any of this sound familiar? It should. This is precisely the sort of unchecked public sector growth that has landed Greece in its current predicament – a worsening crisis that has pushed the entire euro zone to the brink of collapse.
“Public payroll expenses (salaries and pensions of civil servants) rose in Greece from 38 percent of state revenue in 2000 to 55 percent in 2009,” reports Antonis Kamaris of the Council on Foreign Relations. “Compounding this trend, local elites became hostile to any coherent national reform effort, precisely to preserve the system that now privileged them.”
More
These Charts Showing What People Are Searching On Google Are Worrisome
You can learn a lot about what‘s on people’s minds by knowing what information they are searching for on the Internet. So what are people all across the globe searching for in droves? “Bank run.”
The econ blog Zero Hedge explains why that’s potentially concerning:
The volume of searches for the phrase ‘Bank Run’ has just hit an all-time high – higher now than even during the peak of the Lehman Brothers ‘moment’. While English dominates the language choices, the Europeans (Dutch, Germans, and French) are extremely ‘interested’ as are the Chinese [...] . It seems the fears of real ‘bank runs’ are becoming virtually ‘viral’ – not a good sign for the stability of the fictional-reserve-banking-dependent status quo. [Emphasis theirs]
More
The econ blog Zero Hedge explains why that’s potentially concerning:
The volume of searches for the phrase ‘Bank Run’ has just hit an all-time high – higher now than even during the peak of the Lehman Brothers ‘moment’. While English dominates the language choices, the Europeans (Dutch, Germans, and French) are extremely ‘interested’ as are the Chinese [...] . It seems the fears of real ‘bank runs’ are becoming virtually ‘viral’ – not a good sign for the stability of the fictional-reserve-banking-dependent status quo. [Emphasis theirs]
More
** FREE **
First Time Homebuyers Seminar
Thursday June 7th from 6:30-7:30 P.M.
An informative hour with local guest speakers
who will cover the homebuying process from start to finish.
It's not as complicated as you think!
A "FREE" Kindle Fire will be given to one lucky guest.
Join us at Keller Williams Select Realtors
1409 South Salisbury Blvd. Suite C
Salsibury,MD ( between Cheers and Milford St on Rt13 S )
For More Information call 410-726-8829 or 410-430-5912
Thursday June 7th from 6:30-7:30 P.M.
An informative hour with local guest speakers
who will cover the homebuying process from start to finish.
It's not as complicated as you think!
A "FREE" Kindle Fire will be given to one lucky guest.
Join us at Keller Williams Select Realtors
1409 South Salisbury Blvd. Suite C
Salsibury,MD ( between Cheers and Milford St on Rt13 S )
For More Information call 410-726-8829 or 410-430-5912
Big Flag Unveiled On Beach
On Memorial Day afternoon, more than 250 people unfurled a giant American flag on the beach near Division Street.
The flag is 45,000 square feet and weighs 850 pounds, making it one of the largest ceremonial American flags in the country.
Mayor Rick Meehan told WBAL's Maryland's Morning News that the weather and plenty of free events have brought the crowds to the resort town for the weekend.
More
BREAKING NEWS: Syrian Envoys Expelled In Protest Of Massacre
Several nations, including France, Germany, Britain and Australia, are expelling Syrian diplomats in protest of the massacre last Friday in Houla that left at least 108 dead, including 49 children and 34 women, the UN reports.
From Fox News
From Fox News
The Big Print Is Coming
We are discreet sheep; we wait to see how the drove is going, and then go with the drove. We have two opinions: one private, which we are afraid to express; and another one – the one we use – which we force ourselves to wear to please Mrs. Grundy, until habit makes us comfortable in it, and the custom of defending it presently makes us love it, adore it, and forget how pitifully we came by it. Look at it in politics.
- Mark Twain
Humanity’s most valuable assets have been the non-conformists. Were it not for the non-conformists, he who refuses to be satisfied to go along with the continuance of things as they are, and insists upon attempting to find new ways of bettering things, the world would have known little progress, indeed.
- Josiah William Gitt
The media I’ve had a lot to do with is lazy. We fed them and they ate it every day.
- Michael Deaver (Former top aide to President Reagan)
Has The Fed Waited Too Long?
Those that know me understand clear as crystal that I don’t approve of massive money printing. I think it is theft, plain and simple, and represents an egregiously deceptive manner of transferring wealth from the poor to the wealthy and from the productive to parasitic financial oligarchs. That being said, the world we live in is being led by a bunch of crooked banksters and the Central Planners that do their bidding. At the top of the Central Planning global ponzi pyramid, is our very own Federal Reserve, headed by master Keynesian magician, the Wizard of Eccles, Ben Bernanke. For the vast majority of 2012, the Federal Reserve has been playing a very, very dangerous game. This game has been to pretend that they will not be printing any more money in an attempt to get commodity prices down as low as possible before they proceed with the inevitable. While they have done this on a smaller scale many times in the past, this particular game of chicken has in my opinion gone dangerously wrong. You see, ever since the 2008 debacle the Fed has been quite aggressive and more or less “ahead of the curve” when it has come to feeding new liquidity into the system…until now.
More
- Mark Twain
Humanity’s most valuable assets have been the non-conformists. Were it not for the non-conformists, he who refuses to be satisfied to go along with the continuance of things as they are, and insists upon attempting to find new ways of bettering things, the world would have known little progress, indeed.
- Josiah William Gitt
The media I’ve had a lot to do with is lazy. We fed them and they ate it every day.
- Michael Deaver (Former top aide to President Reagan)
Has The Fed Waited Too Long?
Those that know me understand clear as crystal that I don’t approve of massive money printing. I think it is theft, plain and simple, and represents an egregiously deceptive manner of transferring wealth from the poor to the wealthy and from the productive to parasitic financial oligarchs. That being said, the world we live in is being led by a bunch of crooked banksters and the Central Planners that do their bidding. At the top of the Central Planning global ponzi pyramid, is our very own Federal Reserve, headed by master Keynesian magician, the Wizard of Eccles, Ben Bernanke. For the vast majority of 2012, the Federal Reserve has been playing a very, very dangerous game. This game has been to pretend that they will not be printing any more money in an attempt to get commodity prices down as low as possible before they proceed with the inevitable. While they have done this on a smaller scale many times in the past, this particular game of chicken has in my opinion gone dangerously wrong. You see, ever since the 2008 debacle the Fed has been quite aggressive and more or less “ahead of the curve” when it has come to feeding new liquidity into the system…until now.
More
Gay-Marriage Foes to Submit Signatures
Organizers of a petition against Maryland’s same-sex-marriage law are
expected to submit their first batch of signatures to the state Board of Elections on Tuesday.
The Maryland Marriage Alliance, which is leading an effort to force a November referendum on the law, has until June 30 to submit 55,736 valid voter signatures to the state in order to have the law decided by a public vote on Election Day. At least one-third of those signatures - 18,579 - must be turned in by Thursday.
Many gay-marriage supporters and opponents say the law is likely to go to referendum. The legislation passed the General Assembly in February but is not scheduled to go into effect until January.
More
The Maryland Marriage Alliance, which is leading an effort to force a November referendum on the law, has until June 30 to submit 55,736 valid voter signatures to the state in order to have the law decided by a public vote on Election Day. At least one-third of those signatures - 18,579 - must be turned in by Thursday.
Many gay-marriage supporters and opponents say the law is likely to go to referendum. The legislation passed the General Assembly in February but is not scheduled to go into effect until January.
More
SU WINS 10th NATIONAL TITLE IN MEN'S LAX
First, we take this opportunity to salute this year's SU men's lax team and Coach Berkman, who underwent an emergency medical procedure during the season, on another undefeated season and national championship.
And we congratulate the seven Sea Gulls named to this year's 1st All-American team: Matt Cannone, Erik Krum, Sam Bradman, Ryan Clarke, Tyler Granelli, Andrew Sellers and Dean Rossi. Cannone and Bradman had that honor last year, and Bradman was named to the 1st Team in 2010. as well.
If Bradman or Cannone is not named this year's national player of the year, it's got to be because the other was, thereby joining the seven former Sea Gulls who have received that honor. If Jim Berkman is named the national coach of the year it will be for the third time., and it should be.
And, in NCAA Division I the final game is today, at 1 PM, between Loyola, which beat Notre Dame in an all-Catholic college semi-final contest, and Maryland, which topped Duke in an all-ACC game, both held yesterday. That final will be on ESPN.
That game, like the one played yesterday, will show the viewer why lacrosse is the fastest growing organized team sport in the US.
*****
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – No. 1 Salisbury capped off the program's seventh undefeated season and 10th national championship on Sunday by defeating Cortland in the 2012 NCAA Division III title game, 14-10, at Gillette Stadium.
The team finished the season with a 23-0 record and ends the year riding a 30-game winning streak. Twenty-three wins matches the program record for most in a season and the national title is the 16th team title in Salisbury University history.
"We've had some pretty special teams at Salisbury," Head Coach Jim Berkman said. "I can honestly say that this team is right there with some of those other teams. When we talk about the best teams, this is definitely right there in the same breath."
Senior attackman Sam Bradman became the first Division III men's lacrosse player to win the Most Outstanding Player award in a National Championship game in back-to-back years. Bradman led the Sea Gulls with seven points on six goals and one assist in the game.
"I've loved big competition, big games ever since high school," Bradman said. "Getting into the big games, my intensity goes up, and I just like to give it my all."
Bradman and senior attackmen Matt Cannone and Lantz Carter led Salisbury to victory, completing the championship repeat. Cannone led the team with three assists and netted two goals for five points. Carter chipped in with four points on three goals and one assist.
Bradman put Salisbury on the board first with an unassisted goal just 29 seconds into the game. Two Cortland goals gave the Red Dragons the lead before Carter netted his first score to tie the game, 2-2.
Bradman scored his second with 16 seconds left in the first and the Gulls went into the second quarter tied with Cortland, 3-3.
Goals by Bradman and Cannone to start the second quarter gave Salisbury a 5-3 lead. After Cortland scored two to tie the game, senior midfielder Jeff McGuire and Carter netted scores to regain the two-goal lead. Carter's goal came with two seconds left, and Salisbury took the 7-5 lead into halftime.
The Sea Gull offense came to life in the second quarter to outshoot the Red Dragons 14-7. In the first half, Salisbury outshot Cortland 19-16, won 8 of 13 faceoffs and was successful on 6 of 7 clears.
Salisbury started the second half slowly, as the Red Dragons netted two quick scores in the first five minutes of the third quarter. However, two more goals from Bradman and a man-up score from senior attackman Erik Krum gave the Gulls a 10-9 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Salisbury held the lead despite being outscored 4-3 in the third period.
The Sea Gulls rebounded in the fourth quarter to outscore Cortland 4-1, and solidify the win. Bradman, Cannone, Carter and junior midfielder Ryan Clarke all scored in the quarter.
"We had a great senior class, 18 kids who contributed a great deal over a four-year period," Berkman said. "I'm very fortunate to be able to coach those 18 seniors."
Throughout its time at Salisbury University, the senior class has amassed a record of 81-7, made it to four NCAA tournaments, advanced to three National Championship games and won two national championships.
Body of Boater Recovered After Crash Near Bridge
GRASONVILLE, Md. - Authorities have recovered the body of a boater
who was killed after a 21-foot pleasure vessel hit a stone jetty near
the Bay Bridge.
Maryland Natural Resources police say the body of 43-year-old David Whitlow of Hebron was recovered Monday afternoon near the scene of the accident by the Charles County Dive and Rescue unit using side scan sonar.
The crash occurred around 11 p.m. Sunday at the Kent Narrows. Four people were on board the vessel at the time.
More
Maryland Natural Resources police say the body of 43-year-old David Whitlow of Hebron was recovered Monday afternoon near the scene of the accident by the Charles County Dive and Rescue unit using side scan sonar.
The crash occurred around 11 p.m. Sunday at the Kent Narrows. Four people were on board the vessel at the time.
More
Monday, May 28, 2012
Amid Beach Frenzy, Memorial Day Loses Its Meaning
In an era of beach trips and opening the summer house, some who
take comfort in the true purpose of Memorial Day believe its meaning has lost its
lustre.
It prompts the question on the hallowed weekend of remembrance: What does Memorial Day mean to you?
WTOP's David Burd, a Marine Corps drill instructor veteran, says the smells of his time in the armed forces come to mind first. He remembers Kiwi Shoe polish, moth balls, Mennen after shave (issued to every Marine recruit) and Duraglit metal polish, a chemically soaked cotton substance used to shine brass belt buckles.
"Most young men and women don't join the armed services these days and cannot relate to the sacrifices that are made when you join the service," Burd says. "Our wars are not a shared experience like they were before the draft was halted in 1972."
More
It prompts the question on the hallowed weekend of remembrance: What does Memorial Day mean to you?
WTOP's David Burd, a Marine Corps drill instructor veteran, says the smells of his time in the armed forces come to mind first. He remembers Kiwi Shoe polish, moth balls, Mennen after shave (issued to every Marine recruit) and Duraglit metal polish, a chemically soaked cotton substance used to shine brass belt buckles.
"Most young men and women don't join the armed services these days and cannot relate to the sacrifices that are made when you join the service," Burd says. "Our wars are not a shared experience like they were before the draft was halted in 1972."
More
Project Tells Injured Troops' Stories Through Sketches
WASHINGTON - A special project is happening within the walls of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
For one year, five artists have been visiting Walter Reed to capture the stories of wounded troops through illustration.
It's called the "Joe Bonham Project," named for the protagonist in the famous Dalton Trumbo novel "Johnny Got His Gun." The book tells the story of Joe Bonham, a soldier from World War I who lost his face and limbs in an explosion.
In a New York Times video, one illustrator explains the sentiment behind capturing the stories on a sketch pad.
More
For one year, five artists have been visiting Walter Reed to capture the stories of wounded troops through illustration.
It's called the "Joe Bonham Project," named for the protagonist in the famous Dalton Trumbo novel "Johnny Got His Gun." The book tells the story of Joe Bonham, a soldier from World War I who lost his face and limbs in an explosion.
In a New York Times video, one illustrator explains the sentiment behind capturing the stories on a sketch pad.
More
Thousands of Islamists Reportedly Shout at the ‘Ape’ Obama in Tunisia: ‘Obama, Obama, We Are All Osama’
The Middle East Media Research Institute is publicizing
video of thousands of Tunisian Salafis (hardline Islamists) rallying
beneath the flag of al-Qaeda and shouting in unison, “Obama! Obama! We
are all Osama!”
“Let us all cry ‘Allah Akbar’ together!” a speaker cries to the roaring crowd, “so that Obama the ape can hear us! All together now!”
As the crowd obliges, the speaker adds, “So that America can hear us!“ before everyone begins to chant ”We are coming! We are coming!”
More
“Let us all cry ‘Allah Akbar’ together!” a speaker cries to the roaring crowd, “so that Obama the ape can hear us! All together now!”
As the crowd obliges, the speaker adds, “So that America can hear us!“ before everyone begins to chant ”We are coming! We are coming!”
More
Chris Hayes Uncomfortable with Calling Troops 'Heroes;' Quite Comfortable Exercising Rights They Protect
Just in time for Memorial Day, some MSNBC drone named Chris Hayes has lit up the internet with his confession that dead American troops don’t quite measure up to his exacting standards for what qualifies as a “hero.” Memo to Chris: they are heroes, and you don’t get a vote.
Though he may be shocked to hear it, America’s fighting men and women don’t care whether Chris Hayes considers their fallen comrades heroes or not. First, there’s the practical matter that almost no one – in uniform or out – watches MSNBC or the roster of progressive meat puppets that fill the short stretches between endless reruns of "Lock Up."Care about Chris Hayes’s comfort level? They don’t even know this leftist twerp exists.
But on a deeper level, our troops don’t do what they do to impress the likes of Chris Hayes – though he is perfectly willing to make his living in the shadow of their sacrifice. In the scheme of things, Chris Hayes’s views are important only as an object lesson in what our progressive elites really think about our military. And it’s not much.
More
Miami Police Shoot and Kill Naked Man ‘Eating’ Face of Another Man
Miami police shot and killed a naked man on Saturday whom witnesses said was eating the face of another man, the Miami Herald reported:
More
According to police sources, a road ranger saw a naked man chewing on another man’s face and shouted on his loud speaker for him to back away. Meanwhile, a woman also saw the incident and flagged down a police officer who was in the area.The attack occurred around 2 p.m. on a pedestrian walkway just south of the Herald’s offices.
The officer, who has not been identified, approached and, seeing what was happening, also ordered the naked man to back away. When he continued the assault, the officer shot him, police sources said. The attacker failed to stop after being shot, forcing the officer to continue firing. Witnesses said they heard at least a half dozen shots.
More
Obama’s Land of the LOST
What’s green and blue and grabby all over? President Obama’s new
pressure campaign for Congress to ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty
(LOST).
The fight over LOST goes back three decades, when it was first rejected by President Ronald Reagan. He warned that “no national interest of the United States could justify handing sovereign control of two-thirds of the Earth’s surface over to the Third World.” According to top Reagan officials William Clark and Ed Meese, their boss believed the “central, and abiding, defect” was “its effort to promote global government at the expense of sovereign nation states — and most especially the United States.”
The persistent transnationalists who drafted LOST favor creation of a massive United Nations bureaucracy that would draw ocean boundaries, impose environmental regulations and restrict business on the high seas. They’ve tinkered with the document obsessively since the late ’60s, enlisted Presidents Clinton and Bush, and recruited soon-to-depart GOP Sen. Dick Lugar to their crusade. Ignore the mushy save-the-planet rhetoric. Here’s the bottom line: Crucial national security decisions about our naval and drilling operations would be subject to the vote of 162 other signatories, including Cuba, China and Russia.
More
The fight over LOST goes back three decades, when it was first rejected by President Ronald Reagan. He warned that “no national interest of the United States could justify handing sovereign control of two-thirds of the Earth’s surface over to the Third World.” According to top Reagan officials William Clark and Ed Meese, their boss believed the “central, and abiding, defect” was “its effort to promote global government at the expense of sovereign nation states — and most especially the United States.”
The persistent transnationalists who drafted LOST favor creation of a massive United Nations bureaucracy that would draw ocean boundaries, impose environmental regulations and restrict business on the high seas. They’ve tinkered with the document obsessively since the late ’60s, enlisted Presidents Clinton and Bush, and recruited soon-to-depart GOP Sen. Dick Lugar to their crusade. Ignore the mushy save-the-planet rhetoric. Here’s the bottom line: Crucial national security decisions about our naval and drilling operations would be subject to the vote of 162 other signatories, including Cuba, China and Russia.
More
Man arrested for fatal hit-and-run in Ocean City
WASHINGTON - A 30-year-old Virginia man has been arrested and charged
in the hit-and-run death of a 22-year-old man in Ocean City, Md.
Ocean City police say Mathew Jude Cheswick of Cooksville, Md., was crossing Coastal Highway at about
1:20 a.m. Monday when an Isuzu Rodeo driven by Diogo Miller Facchini hit him.
Cheswick was pronounced dead at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md.
More
Ocean City police say Mathew Jude Cheswick of Cooksville, Md., was crossing Coastal Highway at about
1:20 a.m. Monday when an Isuzu Rodeo driven by Diogo Miller Facchini hit him.
Cheswick was pronounced dead at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md.
More
State Sued Over 'Taxes-As-Fees' Gimmick
Colorado needs to return hundreds of millions of dollars to its
taxpayers, plus interest, because new “taxes” assessed over the past few
years for bridge repairs never were approved by voters, as required by
the state constitution, according to a new lawsuit.
The action was brought by the Mountain States Legal Foundation, a non-profit, public-interest legal organization dedicated to individual liberties, the free enterprise system, limited government and the right to own and use property.
“In clear violation of [the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights], the general assembly enacted and [the Colorado Department of Transportation] implemented a scheme to levy taxes and raise revenues without a vote of the people of Colorado,” said William Perry Pendley, a spokesman for the MSLF.
More
The action was brought by the Mountain States Legal Foundation, a non-profit, public-interest legal organization dedicated to individual liberties, the free enterprise system, limited government and the right to own and use property.
“In clear violation of [the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights], the general assembly enacted and [the Colorado Department of Transportation] implemented a scheme to levy taxes and raise revenues without a vote of the people of Colorado,” said William Perry Pendley, a spokesman for the MSLF.
More
The 'Last Full Measure': Buglers Return to Play 'Taps'
WASHINGTON - The heavy rain stopped and the heavens opened up with
brilliant, warm sunshine after days of constant rain in April 2009.
Dodging small pools of water, the crowd approached the nurse's statue at
the south end of the memorial. Chatting quietly as they approached,
three striking figures, wearing blue military style uniforms came into
view.
A woman bookended by two men turned and faced the statue. She slowly raised a white, gloved hand into a salute. The men each raised a shiny bugle to their lips and after a short, reverent moment of silence, began to play "Taps".
A small crowd gathered around them. Some cried as they listened. Others placed their hands over their hearts and closed their eyes. As the last of the notes trailed off into the air, a few people broke out into applause. Some just turned and walked away as silently as they approached. Still others, curious about what they had just witnessed approached them to ask what the occasion was.
More
A woman bookended by two men turned and faced the statue. She slowly raised a white, gloved hand into a salute. The men each raised a shiny bugle to their lips and after a short, reverent moment of silence, began to play "Taps".
A small crowd gathered around them. Some cried as they listened. Others placed their hands over their hearts and closed their eyes. As the last of the notes trailed off into the air, a few people broke out into applause. Some just turned and walked away as silently as they approached. Still others, curious about what they had just witnessed approached them to ask what the occasion was.
More
Media Hastily Erase Articles About Malia Obama’s Appearance at One Direction Concert
Several media outlets have again pulled or edited already-published
articles about the activities of President Barack Obama’s daughter, even
though the stories appeared to pose no active security risk to the
first family.
On Thursday, 14-year-old Malia Obama attended a concert by the British boy band One Direction at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va., flanked by Secret Service agents who attempted unsuccessfully to blend in with the crowd of mostly pre-teen girls.
On Thursday, 14-year-old Malia Obama attended a concert by the British boy band One Direction at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va., flanked by Secret Service agents who attempted unsuccessfully to blend in with the crowd of mostly pre-teen girls.
Boy Scouts Lend A Hand To Honor Veterans
For 25 years now, hundreds of boys in uniform swarm Baltimore National Cemetery on Frederick Avenue in southwest Baltimore with one goal in mind - to honor the work and sacrifices of veterans.
One of the adults involved in the Memorial Day service program says that it is important for the boys to understand what veterans mean to the nation.
Gene Shaffer, a longtime Boy Scouts executive and veteran, helped to get the movement started.
He says that 25 years ago, the cemetery superintendent at that time called him for help, he put the word out and they had about 800 boys show up. The number of scouts helping has grown to about 1,200 today, he adds.
More
25th Rolling Thunder Comes Roaring into Washington
About 400,000 men and women on motorcycles met up in the parking lot for the Pentagon. At noon, the long procession started the ride to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall.
The riders come from all over the country. Many are veterans themselves, but many are not.
"We're just here to support all veterans, and all the guys out there fighting," says a man riding with his 12-year-old daughter.
More
NUGENT: God bless America’s warriors
Freedom isn’t free. Never has been, never will be. Very special
warriors have provided freedom at supreme sacrifice since time
immemorial. Good people will never forget, and we celebrate Memorial Day
with a hard-charging spirit in appreciation for hard-charging warriors.
With his lifeblood pouring out of him from a mortal RPG wound to center mass, Pvt. 1st Class Todd Balding from Texas was, on the surface, but a bundle of red gauze and bandages, a jumble of tubes and numerous electronic apparatus beeping away. He was surrounded by a dedicated team of U.S. military medical experts at the Landstuhl hospital in Germany doing everything in their power to save the young American’s life.
Toby Keith and I literally stood in the young hero’s blood and said a very solemn prayer. Moments later, Pvt. 1st Class Todd Balding died. He was 21 years-old. He died fighting for freedom. That was one of many defining moments that struck me deep inside during my USO tour in 2004, and a defining moment in my life.
More
With his lifeblood pouring out of him from a mortal RPG wound to center mass, Pvt. 1st Class Todd Balding from Texas was, on the surface, but a bundle of red gauze and bandages, a jumble of tubes and numerous electronic apparatus beeping away. He was surrounded by a dedicated team of U.S. military medical experts at the Landstuhl hospital in Germany doing everything in their power to save the young American’s life.
Toby Keith and I literally stood in the young hero’s blood and said a very solemn prayer. Moments later, Pvt. 1st Class Todd Balding died. He was 21 years-old. He died fighting for freedom. That was one of many defining moments that struck me deep inside during my USO tour in 2004, and a defining moment in my life.
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Sunday, May 27, 2012
‘You Have to Pay for That’: California City Bills Obama $35K After Campaign Fundraiser
With California’s current deficit woes, it has seemingly become
difficult to justify the tens of thousands of dollars it can cost the
taxpayer in extra security measures for Obama’s campaign stops.
That is why, according to the Los Angeles Times, Newport Beach has billed the president $35,043.04.
The L.A. Times continues:
City Manager Dave Kiff said the invoice was his idea.
“I think it is appropriate to treat it like a private event — if another private event that large and which required that much police presence occurred, we would bill the event sponsor,” he said in an email. “If the president was here on presidential business, we likely would not have billed for that.”
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That is why, according to the Los Angeles Times, Newport Beach has billed the president $35,043.04.
The L.A. Times continues:
City Manager Dave Kiff said the invoice was his idea.
“I think it is appropriate to treat it like a private event — if another private event that large and which required that much police presence occurred, we would bill the event sponsor,” he said in an email. “If the president was here on presidential business, we likely would not have billed for that.”
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Judge Sends Honor Student to Jail for Missing School
A Houston-area teenager has been jailed and fined for missing school
by a judge who hopes to make an example of her. 17-year-old Diane Tran
is working two jobs while taking advanced placement and dual credit
courses at Willis High School in Willis, Texas. Some mornings, she is
simply too exhausted to make it to school on time. Some days she misses
classes altogether.
She was warned by Judge Lanny Moriarty in April not to miss any more school. When she missed school again last week, he sentenced her to 24 hours behind bars and a $100 fine.
“If you let one of ‘em run loose, what are you gon’ do with the rest of ‘em, let them go too?” the judge offered as justification.
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She was warned by Judge Lanny Moriarty in April not to miss any more school. When she missed school again last week, he sentenced her to 24 hours behind bars and a $100 fine.
“If you let one of ‘em run loose, what are you gon’ do with the rest of ‘em, let them go too?” the judge offered as justification.
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Recent Grad Faces Trespassing Charge After Getting Shot While Stumbling Into Unlocked Home
A 21-year-old woman who was shot in the hip by a Colorado homeowner
after police said she drunkenly wandered into a house now faces a felony
trespassing charge, prosecutors said.
Zoey Ripple, who graduated from the University of Colorado earlier this month, entered a couple’s Boulder home through an unlocked door at around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, police said.
Ripple apparently ignored warnings from the couple that they had a gun and walked into their bedroom. Homeowner Timothy Justice fired one shot in the darkness, police said.
When Justice and his wife switched on the lights, they saw Ripple on the floor with a gunshot wound. They later told police they did not recognize her as anyone they knew.
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Zoey Ripple, who graduated from the University of Colorado earlier this month, entered a couple’s Boulder home through an unlocked door at around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, police said.
Ripple apparently ignored warnings from the couple that they had a gun and walked into their bedroom. Homeowner Timothy Justice fired one shot in the darkness, police said.
When Justice and his wife switched on the lights, they saw Ripple on the floor with a gunshot wound. They later told police they did not recognize her as anyone they knew.
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Are Young People Just Lazy And Stupid Or Is This Economy Anti-Youth?
Today, National Center for Education Statistics
released some ugly numbers for young people looking for work this
summer. At some point, the Obama administration needs to take some
responsibility.
High school employment has reached a 20-year low. 32 percent of high school students held jobs in 1990. Today, that number has dropped to a whopping 16 percent.
For college students, it’s not much prettier. 40 percent of full-time college students hold jobs—23 percent less than the 52 percent of students who worked in 2000.
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High school employment has reached a 20-year low. 32 percent of high school students held jobs in 1990. Today, that number has dropped to a whopping 16 percent.
For college students, it’s not much prettier. 40 percent of full-time college students hold jobs—23 percent less than the 52 percent of students who worked in 2000.
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Retired General Recalls First Death Under His Command
Memorial Day is for remembering those who gave their lives for their
country. But retired general Peter Pace, former chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, remembers Guido Farinaro every day.
"I was a second lieutenant," Pace told a spellbound dinner audience as he recounted the first marine to die under his command in Vietnam in 1968. "He was a lance corporal. I was 22. He was 19."
Pace said Guido was killed by a sniper.
"I was holding Guido when he died. Like children and grandchildren, the first, somehow, is more special."
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"I was a second lieutenant," Pace told a spellbound dinner audience as he recounted the first marine to die under his command in Vietnam in 1968. "He was a lance corporal. I was 22. He was 19."
Pace said Guido was killed by a sniper.
"I was holding Guido when he died. Like children and grandchildren, the first, somehow, is more special."
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Awkward: Obamas to Welcome George W. Bush to White House Next Week
This ought to be fun. Barack and Michelle Obama will welcome The Most
Evil Man in the World (or as he's known outside the Democratic Party,
George W. Bush) and his wife Laura to the White House next week, for the
unveiling of their official portraits. Of course, this comes as the
current president is in full campaign mode, and W. occupies the role of
Obama's eternal scapegoat. It'll be no minor miracle if Obama can make
it through the unveiling without blaming Bush for something.
Such ceremonies often bring together current and former presidents with rivalries, grudges or awkward relationships. But the timing of this unveiling is particularly delicate as Mr. Obama uses Mr. Bush as a foil on the campaign trail against former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, his presumptive Republican challenger. Although Mr. Obama generally does not mention Mr. Bush by name, he often says Mr. Romney wants to replicate the former president’s agenda but “on steroids.”
At a campaign fund-raiser in Redwood City, Calif., on Wednesday, for instance, Mr. Obama said Republicans wanted “bigger tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans,” “deeper cuts” in Medicare and education, “even more power” for banks to do as they please, and fewer regulations that protect consumers. “But that’s not new,” he added. “That was tried, remember? The last guy did all this.”
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Such ceremonies often bring together current and former presidents with rivalries, grudges or awkward relationships. But the timing of this unveiling is particularly delicate as Mr. Obama uses Mr. Bush as a foil on the campaign trail against former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, his presumptive Republican challenger. Although Mr. Obama generally does not mention Mr. Bush by name, he often says Mr. Romney wants to replicate the former president’s agenda but “on steroids.”
At a campaign fund-raiser in Redwood City, Calif., on Wednesday, for instance, Mr. Obama said Republicans wanted “bigger tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans,” “deeper cuts” in Medicare and education, “even more power” for banks to do as they please, and fewer regulations that protect consumers. “But that’s not new,” he added. “That was tried, remember? The last guy did all this.”
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In U.S., Nearly Half Identify as Economically Conservative
Americans are more than twice as likely to identify themselves as conservative rather than liberal on economic issues, 46% to 20%. The gap is narrower on social issues, but conservatives still outnumber liberals, 38% to 28%.
These results are based on Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs poll, conducted May 3-6. Since 2001, the poll has asked Americans to say whether they are liberal, moderate, or conservative on "economic" and, separately, "social" issues. The interpretation of what qualifies as social or economic issues is left to the respondent, given that the question does not define or provide examples of these types of issues.
In the same poll, on Gallup's standard measure of ideology -- not asked in reference to any set of issues -- 41% identified themselves as conservatives, 33% as moderates, and 23% as liberals. Those figures are similar to what Gallup typically finds when it asks people to identify their ideology.
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Warning For Speed Cameras Begins
In an effort to increase driver compliance with the posted School Zone speed limits throughout Wicomico County, the County is launching an Automated Speed Enforcement Camera Program. Similar programs are being utilized in Montgomery County and District Heights, and are viewed as an effective means of positively changing driver behavior and improving safety for both pedestrians and motorists. The Transportation Article of the Maryland Annotated Code authorizes municipalities to establish school zones and utilize speed monitoring systems to enforce posted limits. Maryland law further requires that revenue derived from such programs be utilized for public safety programs and improving pedestrian safety.
According to Sheriff Mike Lewis, "Our main objective is to protect the children and residents of Wicomico from drivers who are choosing to disobey the posted speed limit and break the law".
The speed enforcement equipment uses a radar camera programmed to capture a series of photographs of vehicles exceeding the posted limit by more than 12 mph during the hours of 6am-8pm. These digital images will be used to identify the vehicle’s registered owner and will appear on the citation which carries a $40 fine. The vehicle’s recorded speed and the time of the violation will also be noted on the violation, which is being treated as a civil rather than criminal penalty. As a result, no license "points" will be assigned and insurance providers are not notified of the citation.
To allow drivers who live, work or travel through the area time to become more familiar with the program, Warning notices will be issued to violators for the first 30 days beginning Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Once the grace period concludes, violators will receive a $40 citation which may be contested in Maryland District Court. Detailed instructions on how to pay the citation or request a Court date are included on the violation notice.
In addition to the Warning period, information regarding the program will be available on the Wicomico County Sheriffs website www.wicomicosheriff.com and signage will be posted advising drivers that camera enforcement is being utilized.
According to Sheriff Lewis, "The overriding goal of this program is not to trap drivers or catch speeders, the goal is to make people aware and get them to slow down…lives depend on it".
According to Sheriff Mike Lewis, "Our main objective is to protect the children and residents of Wicomico from drivers who are choosing to disobey the posted speed limit and break the law".
The speed enforcement equipment uses a radar camera programmed to capture a series of photographs of vehicles exceeding the posted limit by more than 12 mph during the hours of 6am-8pm. These digital images will be used to identify the vehicle’s registered owner and will appear on the citation which carries a $40 fine. The vehicle’s recorded speed and the time of the violation will also be noted on the violation, which is being treated as a civil rather than criminal penalty. As a result, no license "points" will be assigned and insurance providers are not notified of the citation.
To allow drivers who live, work or travel through the area time to become more familiar with the program, Warning notices will be issued to violators for the first 30 days beginning Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Once the grace period concludes, violators will receive a $40 citation which may be contested in Maryland District Court. Detailed instructions on how to pay the citation or request a Court date are included on the violation notice.
In addition to the Warning period, information regarding the program will be available on the Wicomico County Sheriffs website www.wicomicosheriff.com and signage will be posted advising drivers that camera enforcement is being utilized.
According to Sheriff Lewis, "The overriding goal of this program is not to trap drivers or catch speeders, the goal is to make people aware and get them to slow down…lives depend on it".
9-Year-Old Shames School Into Healthier Food With Blog About Its Lacking
Here at Consumerist, we know a little something about publicly shaming big, bad companies into doing right by customers. But apparently, it works on other levels as well — say, a 9-year-old girl blogging about her terrible lunches at her school in Scotland.
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Remembering 2012
This weekend is Memorial Day Weekend when we remember, reflect and
pay homage to all the men and women who have paid the ultimate price for
the freedom and prosperity we call the American way of life.
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It came into being after the Civil War as a day set aside to honor the Union war dead, but actually Southern ladies organizations and school children had decorated the graves of the Confederate dead even as the civil war was going on.
Each area had its own date to decorate and though they may have been different they were all usually in the month of May.
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Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It came into being after the Civil War as a day set aside to honor the Union war dead, but actually Southern ladies organizations and school children had decorated the graves of the Confederate dead even as the civil war was going on.
Each area had its own date to decorate and though they may have been different they were all usually in the month of May.
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Burning Down Home Depot Will Not Help Save Your Friend's Hardware Store
We do enjoy hearing stories about friends who go the extra mile to help each other out. There is also something to be said for helping out a local business in favor of a national retail chain. However, it's probably not in anyone's best interest to try to burn the bigger store to the ground.
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Obama Holds Off on Pool-Destroying Regulations til After Election
Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, in an amazing example of evolution, President Obama announced he wouldn’t enforce regulations written by his own Administration.
I’m sure we’ve all heard about the ADA swimming pool lift requirement by now. In order to make swimming pools and spas accessible to Americans with Disabilities, all facilities were required to install permanent lifts in every public facility, at a cost of at least $6,000 each, by the end of May. Locations with multiple pools would be required to install a lift for every single pool on their property. Of course, each lift would need to have a qualified operator and lifeguard on duty.Beyond the cost and hassle of getting the lifts installed, hotel insurance companies weren’t even sure if they would be able to write internal policies for them. Needless to say, the risk of lowering a quadriplegic into water over his head presents a liability problem or two. The cost could be so great that most facilities would just eliminate their pools. It’s why diving boards disappeared (I still haven’t forgiven personal injury attorneys for that one). I can only wonder what would happen to water parks, since most modern high-speed slides seem a tad hazardous for people with limited mobility.
Long-Running Mouse Infestation May Shut Down N.Y. Walmart
Recent state inspections of a Monticello, N.Y. Walmart have the mundane violations you'd see in any food facility's inspection: dusty fans, lettuce cross-contamination, and coolers slightly warmer than they should be. Then there's all of the food and other merchandise they've had to throw out after it was "defiled by rodents." The state keeps coming back and reporting "thousands" of mouse droppings and evidence of rodents all over the store...and a few decaying corpses while they're at it. The reports of mice go back to September 2011.
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Recovery? Half of American Households Living on Government Benefits
Some astoundingly grim news on the "economic recovery" front: half of American households are receiving government funds
to support themselves. No matter which way you slice it, this number
isn't good news for the Obama administration -- they can spin the jobs
numbers by ignoring the number of people who dropped out of the
workforce, but this statistic is pretty straightforward.
The 49.1% of the population in a household that gets benefits is up from 30% in the early 1980s and 44.4% as recently as the third quarter of 2008.
The increase in recent years is likely due in large part to the lingering effects of the recession. As of early 2011, 15% of people lived in a household that received food stamps, 26% had someone enrolled in Medicaid and 2% had a member receiving unemployment benefits. Families doubling up to save money or pool expenses also is likely leading to more multigenerational households. But even without the effects of the recession, there would be a larger reliance on government.
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The 49.1% of the population in a household that gets benefits is up from 30% in the early 1980s and 44.4% as recently as the third quarter of 2008.
The increase in recent years is likely due in large part to the lingering effects of the recession. As of early 2011, 15% of people lived in a household that received food stamps, 26% had someone enrolled in Medicaid and 2% had a member receiving unemployment benefits. Families doubling up to save money or pool expenses also is likely leading to more multigenerational households. But even without the effects of the recession, there would be a larger reliance on government.
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New Parking Meter Sensors Put An End To Parking On Previous Driver's Dime
Have you ever pulled up to a metered parking spot and found that the driver who just left the space still had time left on the meter? It's like getting free money, especially if that leftover time is enough for you to run your errand without having to feed the meter. But the folks in Denver are testing out new sensors that would delete any remaining time when you drive away from the meter.
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Volunteer Mounted Patrols to Debut in Howard Co.
SAVAGE, Md. (AP) - Howard County police are getting some equine assistance this
Memorial Day weekend.
The department has established a new volunteer mounted patrol unit. Twelve people will conduct patrols while riding their own horses. The unit starts work this weekend in the Savage area.
The mounted volunteers won't have any police powers, but police say they will report any suspicious activity and deter crime.
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The department has established a new volunteer mounted patrol unit. Twelve people will conduct patrols while riding their own horses. The unit starts work this weekend in the Savage area.
The mounted volunteers won't have any police powers, but police say they will report any suspicious activity and deter crime.
More
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